Americans Celebrate National Flag Day, Week

Barak Obama, Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton during the national anthem at an Iowa campaign stop in 2007.

GULF COAST -- American Legion posts in Harrison County and Gulfport conducted ceremonies today in observation of Flag Day.

Several cities in Jackson County did not conduct observances, which may be held during National Flag Week, June 12 -18.

According to wikipedia.com, one of the longest-running Flag Day parades is held in Quincy, Mass., which begin in 1952, celebrating its 59th year in 2010, making 2011 the 60th year. The 59th Annual Appleton Wisconsin 2009 Flag Day Parade featured the U.S. Navy. The largest Flag Day parade is held in Troy, N.Y., which bases is parade on the Quincy parade and typically draws 50,00 spectators.

A press release from the White House included the presidential proclamation for Flag Day and National Flag Week.

"On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted a flag with 13 stripes and 13 stars to represent our nation, one star for each of our founding colonies. The stars were set upon a blue field, in the words of the Congress's resolution, "representing a new constellation" in the night sky. What was then a fledgling democracy has flourished and expanded, as we constantly strive toward a more perfect Union.

"Through the successes and struggles we have faced the American flag as been ever present. It has flown on our ships and military bases around the world as we continue to defend liberty and democracy abroad. It has been raised in yards and on porches across America on days of celebration, and as a sign of our shared heritage. And it is lowered on days of remembrance to honor fallen service members and public servants: or when tragedy strikes and we join together in mourning. Our flag is the mark of one country, one people, uniting under one banner.

Stony Hill School, in Waubeka, Wis., is site of the first formal observance of Flag Day.

When the American flag soars, so too does our Nation and the ideals it stands for. We remain committed to defending the liberties and freedoms it represents, and we give special thanks to the members of the Armed Forces who wear our flag proudly. On Flag Day, and during National Flag Week, we celebrate the powerful beacon of hope that our flag has become for us all, and for people around the world.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as "Flag Day" and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 8, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President annually issue a proclamaton designating the week in which June 14 occurs as "National Flag Week" and call upon citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2011, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 12, 2011, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week,

and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag. I also call up the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth."

BARACK OBAMA